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Two things can be true at once.
On the one hand, graphics don’t matter.
On the other hand,Pokemon Legends: Z-Alooks terrible.
With Legends: Z-A,Pokemonis still struggling becauseGame Freakdoesn’t seem to be making a choice at all.
Gen 2’s queen is coming back for her crown.
But, graphically impressive games (obviously) look great, too.
I’m not immune to marveling at a vista inRed Dead Redemption 2.
I can’t help but gawk at a flashyFinal Fantasyboss fight.
I stop and stareat the detail of the jungle in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
They’re different experiences, and they’re aiming for different targets.
At first, I was willing to extend a little leeway.
But I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say that Legends Z-A looks like a GameCube game.
Sure, there are more polygons.
But,look at the grass at 0:17-18.
That isn’t a requirement of putting a game on Switch.
Link doesn’t move like that.
Mario doesn’t move like that either.
The world of Pokemon is filled with vibrant, colorful, larger-than-life characters.
But by sticking to this art style, the series is failing to bring them to life.
Other Pokemon media has found a look.
And the older handheld Pokemon games and spin-offs pulled off more evocative stuff with more constraints.
I can only hope that after Z-A the studio gets some time to aim a little higher.
